Supporting Youth in Foster Care Through Community & Mentorship with Beth Ryan and Jorie Das

The Girl I Am: Identity, Adoption, and Who Tells the Story with Shannon Gibney

Who gets to tell the story of adoption? For generations, adoption narratives have often been shaped by agencies, systems, and families. But increasingly, adoptees themselves are taking ownership of those stories and offering perspectives that are more complex, nuanced, and deeply personal. This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by acclaimed author, educator, and activist Shannon Gibney, whose award-winning memoir, The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be, explores transracial adoption, identity, race, belonging, and the lifelong process of understanding where we come from. As an adoptee, Shannon brings lived experience to a conversation that challenges assumptions and invites listeners to think more deeply about identity, voice, and perspective. Together, Rob and Shannon explore how adoption stories evolve over time, why adoptee voices matter, and what it means to reclaim ownership of one's own narrative. This is not a conversation about simple answers. It's a conversation about listening, understanding, and making space for experiences that have too often been left out of the discussion. Conversation Highlights How adoption narratives are evolving to include more adoptee-centered perspectives The unique complexities of transracial adoption and identity formation Why race, culture, and belonging remain important parts of the adoption conversation How Shannon uses "speculative memoir" to explore memory, identity, and possibility What it means for adoptees to reclaim and tell their own stories Why listening to lived experience strengthens conversations about adoption and foster care About Shannon Gibney Shannon Gibney is an award-winning writer, educator, and activist whose work explores race, identity, family, and adoption. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, which received a Michael L. Printz Honor and a Minnesota Book Award. In addition to her writing, Shannon teaches at Minneapolis College and was named Educator of the Year in 2023. Her work encourages readers and audiences to engage thoughtfully with questions of identity, belonging, and social justice. Connect with Shannon Gibney 🌐 Website: Shannon Gibney 📧 Email: shannongibney@gmail.com Closing Thought Identity is not a destination. It is a lifelong journey. This conversation reminds us that adoption is not a single event but an experience that continues to shape people across a lifetime. By listening to adoptee voices, we deepen our understanding of belonging, family, and the many ways people make sense of their own stories. 🎧 Join us next week for another powerful conversation as Fostering Change continues to explore the people, ideas, and experiences shaping the future of foster care and adoption.https://youtu.be/k8YuD5iw_uE 🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: 👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases [https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

No Child Should Age Out Alone: Finding Families for Older Youth with Jennifer Pinder

What happens to a child when they grow up in foster care… and no one ever comes for them? Not when they’re five. Not when they’re ten. Not even when they’re fifteen. This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Pinder, Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, an organization that has spent the last 30 years proving that it is never too late for a young person in foster care to have a permanent, loving family. As an adoptee herself, Jennifer brings both lived experience and professional leadership to this conversation — helping challenge the harmful belief that older youth are “too old” for adoption or permanency. Together, Rob and Jennifer discuss why older youth are so often overlooked, the emotional realities of aging out of foster care alone, and how You Gotta Believe! is redefining what family can look like for teenagers and young adults in care. At the center of this conversation is a simple but powerful truth: every child deserves belonging, commitment, and someone who will show up for them — no matter their age. Conversation Highlights Why do thousands of youth age out of foster care each year without permanent family connections The misconceptions and fears that prevent many families from considering older youth adoption How You Gotta Believe! focuses exclusively on permanency for older youth in foster care Why lived experience matters in leadership, advocacy, and building trust with young people What permanency and belonging truly mean for youth who have spent years in the system About Jennifer Pinder Jennifer Pinder is the Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, a nonprofit dedicated to finding permanent families for older youth in foster care. Since joining the organization in 2020, she has led efforts in advocacy, communications, fundraising, and strategic growth as the organization celebrates its 30th anniversary. An adoptee herself, Jennifer brings a deeply personal connection to the organization’s mission and works alongside a team that includes many individuals with lived experience in child welfare. Connect with Jennifer & You Gotta Believe! 🌐 Website: You Gotta Believe! 📸 Instagram: @jennifer_yougottabelieve 💼 LinkedIn: Jennifer Pinder LinkedIn Closing Thought Family is not about perfection. It is about commitment. Consistency. Showing up. This conversation is a reminder that no young person should leave foster care believing they are unwanted or forgotten — and that it is never too late for someone to belong. 🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: 👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases [https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Supporting Youth in Foster Care Through Community & Mentorship with Beth Ryan and Jorie Das

As National Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, this episode of Fostering Change focuses on something deeply important: what happens when organizations stop working in silos and start working together for young people. This week, Rob Scheer is joined by two Los Angeles-based leaders making a meaningful impact in the lives of youth connected to foster care: Beth Ryan, Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, and Jorie Das, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles. Together, their organizations are helping young people navigate some of the most difficult transitions imaginable — aging out of foster care, finding stability, building community, and creating long-term support systems rooted in consistency and trust. Beth Ryan’s work through Stepping Forward LA focuses on youth transitioning out of foster care, with programs centered around mentorship, housing support, internships, workforce readiness, and a first-of-its-kind app designed by and for foster youth. Jorie Das leads Friends of the Children Los Angeles, which provides long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers through a unique 12+ year commitment model focused on stability, prevention, and long-term success. Throughout the conversation, Rob, Beth, and Jorie explore how collaboration between nonprofits can strengthen outcomes for youth — and why consistent relationships remain one of the most powerful tools for healing and success. Episode Highlights Why aging out of foster care remains one of the biggest challenges facing young adults How mentorship and long-term relationships improve outcomes for youth The importance of nonprofit collaboration instead of competition How Los Angeles reflects both the scale of the foster care crisis and the opportunity for innovation Why Foster Care Awareness Month must lead to meaningful action and engagement About the Guests Beth Ryan is the Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, a nonprofit supporting youth aging out of foster care through mentorship, housing support, workforce development, and community-based solutions. As the organization approaches its 10-year anniversary, Stepping Forward LA continues expanding its impact across Los Angeles. Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, an organization providing long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded across Los Angeles County, helping youth and caregivers through a prevention-focused model built on consistency and trust. Key Questions from This Episode What prompted the creation of Stepping Forward LA and Friends of the Children Los Angeles? What are the biggest challenges youth face when aging out of foster care? Why does long-term mentorship matter so much? How can nonprofits collaborate more effectively to support youth? What role do community, housing, and workforce development play in long-term stability? How can people move beyond awareness and take meaningful action? Connect with the Guests Stepping Forward LA 🌐 Website: Stepping Forward LA 📸 Instagram: @steppingforwardla Friends of the Children Los Angeles 🌐 Website: Friends of the Children Los Angeles 📸 Instagram: @friendsla Closing Thought Real change rarely happens alone. This conversation is a reminder that when organizations, mentors, communities, and advocates work together, young people experience something powerful: consistency, connection, and the belief that they are not navigating life alone. 🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: 👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases [https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Foster Care to Family: A Story of Healing and Second Chances with Christie Werts

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Christie Werts, a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, and adoptive mother whose life has come full circle through foster care. Christie shares her journey in her book, Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story, tracing a path from childhood trauma and separation to healing, compassion, and building a family of her own. This is an especially emotional conversation for Rob, who reflects openly on the painful experience of his own mother leaving him and his siblings — and the lasting impact that loss has had throughout his life. Together, Rob and Christie explore how childhood trauma shapes identity, how healing can emerge in unexpected ways, and what it means to return to the foster care system — not as a child, but as a parent determined to create something different. At the center of Christie’s story is compassion: a decision to foster and later adopt her husband’s ex-wife’s child in order to keep siblings connected and together. And by the end of the conversation, Christie leaves listeners with a message that becomes the emotional heartbeat of the episode: this is ultimately a love story — about God, healing, and hope. As Christie shares: “There’s a love story ahead of you. And it’s gonna be ok.” Episode Highlights Christie’s journey from foster youth to foster and adoptive parent The emotional impact of childhood separation and abandonment How trauma and healing can exist side by side A remarkable decision to keep siblings together through adoption The role of faith, compassion, and second chances in rebuilding family About the Guest Christie Werts is a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, speaker, and mother of five whose life has come full circle through foster care and adoption. After experiencing trauma in the system as a child, she later returned to foster care as a parent, ultimately adopting a child connected to her own family. Through her book, Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story, Christie shares a deeply personal journey of resilience, faith, healing, and compassion. Key Questions from This Episode What inspired you to write Life’s Sad Story, God’s Love Story? How did your childhood experiences in foster care shape your life? What led you to step back into foster care as a parent? How did the decision to adopt your husband’s ex-wife’s child come about? What did healing look like for you over time? How have kindness and compassion shaped your family today? What message do you hope listeners take from your story? Connect with Christie 📱 TikTok: @Cjthemom5 📘 Facebook / Instagram: Christie Werts 🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: 👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases [https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Emergence: From Group Homes to Groundbreaking Science with David Sussillo

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by David Sussillo, a neuroscientist, author, and former youth who experienced a childhood marked by instability, poverty, and time in group homes. His story begins in environments many children in foster care and group settings know all too well — uncertainty, trauma, and systems that don’t always provide the support they should. But his story doesn’t end there. Through a combination of resilience, critical intervention, and moments where someone stepped in, David found a path forward. Today, he is a leading neuroscientist who has worked at Stanford, Google, and Meta, studying the very thing that shaped his life: the human brain. His memoir, Emergence, is not just a story of survival — it is a powerful reminder of what can happen when even one opportunity changes the trajectory of a child’s life. This conversation challenges us to ask a difficult but necessary question: how many children are out there right now, just one moment away from a different future? Episode Highlights Growing up in instability, poverty, and group home environments How trauma shapes memory, identity, and development The role of mentors, teachers, and small interventions From survival to success in neuroscience and research Reflecting on resilience, loss, and the paths not taken About the Guest David Sussillo is a neuroscientist, author, and adjunct professor at Stanford University. After a childhood marked by instability and time in group homes, he earned a PhD in computational neuroscience from Columbia University and has worked at leading institutions, including Google Brain and Meta. His memoir, Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind, tells the story of his journey from trauma to transformation. Key Questions from This Episode What led you to write Emergence now? What was it like to revisit your childhood experiences through writing? How did you navigate growing up in group homes and unstable environments? Who were the people who helped change your path? What role did small moments or opportunities play in your journey? How do you reflect on your success alongside those who didn’t have the same outcome? What would you say to a young person facing similar challenges today? Closing Thought Sometimes it doesn’t take everything changing — it takes one moment, one person, one opportunity. And for a child navigating instability, that can be the difference between surviving and becoming something far beyond anyone's expectations. Connect with David 🌐 Website: https://www.davidsussillo.com 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/SussilloDavid 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-sussillo-736a1290/ 🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube! Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: 👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases [https://www.youtube.com/@comfortcases] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.